Our Fun Fall Trip

October 30, 2008, 10:14 pm

We took our annual fall trip to Nebraska City to meet Grandma and Grandpa for some fall fun. Noah and Lily counted down the sleeps until the day of the trip. This was our 5th year to visit the beautiful Nebraska City, which is home of Arbor Day and filled with trees, pumpkin patches, and apple orchards.

We picked a great weekend, as the leaves were gorgeous. Everyone enjoyed a walk through the woods with Grandpa identifying all of the different kinds of trees. Nathan and I enjoyed a run through Nebraska City while Grandma and Grandpa went swimming with the kids.

Here are some pictures of our fun weekend:


[ 2 comments ] ( 6 views )

Our Running Man

October 29, 2008, 2:22 pm

If you've followed this blog over the past few years, you've noticed some entries about Nathan's triathlons, marathons, and other runs. Papa has become quite the athlete, and Noah, Lily, and I enjoy cheering him on at races.

Last Saturday Nathan completed a 50 mile run! Now if you have ever ran in your life, you know that is a really really long way to run. A marathon is 26.2 miles. Nathan completed this amazing feat in a little over 10 hours. He returned with a very impressive endurance medal. I heard Noah talking to his friend Cade and showing him the medal. He said, "This is what you get for running 50 miles!"

Lily said to me a while back, "Papa knows about computers...and running." So true.

Here's our running man: (We're very proud)

[ 3 comments ] ( 14 views )

Star Wars Fanatic

October 15, 2008, 10:05 pm

Some of you will be happy to hear that I bought Noah some pajamas that actually fit. I found some Star Wars Clone Wars pajamas and made Noah's day. He read a book about Star Wars while wearing his new pajamas...

Noah reads every day. He started recording his minutes for a free pizza at school, and now he's in the habit of reading at least 30 minutes every day. He likes waking up and reading before school and reading in the evening. His favorite books are Captain Underpants, Indiana Jones, and Star Wars.

[ 3 comments ] ( 14 views )

Columbus Day Fun

October 15, 2008, 9:57 pm

Noah, Lily, and Emily had Monday off for Columbus Day. We had a great time outdoors at the pumpkin patch and the zoo.

Here are some pictures from our day:

Measuring up:



The kids and their pumpkin pal:



Can you guess what animals they were pretending to be?



Emily, Noah, and Lily were very excited to sit on Kevin's bench and look at his name:



We waited a while to be first in line for the train and get the best spot (the kids were so excited):

[ 1 comment ] ( 10 views )

Lulu and her Papa

October 10, 2008, 12:34 pm

I'm sitting at work with tears in my eyes. I received a picture message on my phone of the following image:



Lily had her first field trip to the pumpkin patch this morning. I found out about the field trip a week ago, and I already had patients scheduled for this morning. Nathan has been very busy at work and has taken off early for Noah many times already. So we decided that we would not be able to go with Lily on her field trip.

I went to work early this morning, so Nathan took Lily to school. Apparently she asked her Papa to go to the pumpkin patch and he did.

Warms this Mama's heart...

(And I love that he put a cap on her.)

[ 2 comments ] ( 14 views )

Noah Quote of the Week

October 8, 2008, 8:12 am

Noah was playing at Cade's house, and his Dad called to tell us a great line from Noah. Cade's dad bought the movie Iron Man last week. He asked Noah, "Have you seen Iron Man before?" Noah responded, "Nope! But I've seen my Dad do a half Iron Man!" I like that to Noah an iron man is a competition not a movie...

[ 2 comments ] ( 13 views )

Lily Quote of the Week

October 6, 2008, 9:40 pm

Noah had a cub scout meeting at the library tonight, so Nathan, Lily, and I walked to a restaurant by the river to have a drink and an appetizer. Lily was very entertaining as usual.

Lily gave me some trash and then said, "Mama, you're a human trash can! And I'm a human blanket." (I love that she associated these two things I often say.)

Lily was talking and looking at her reflection in the glass. I asked, "You like that pretty girl in the window?" Lily asked, "You like that pretty Mama in the window? You like that handsome Papa in the window? Handsome is pretty for boys!"

[ 2 comments ] ( 8 views )

Fallish Fun

October 5, 2008, 9:00 pm

October 4th was a beautiful fall Saturday. We took advantage of the wonderful weather and spent a lot of time outdoors.

In the morning, we went to a family fun day at the YMCA where the kids enjoyed painting pumpkins, jumping in jumpy houses, having their faces painted, and playing sports (Noah, Cade, and Carter played lots of soccer and football). Lily was very scared of the Quad Cities Flames mascot, and when the Wainwrights arrived she was under my jacket hiding from the mascot. Thankfully he never came close to her.



I love how serious Lily is when she paints:



Our friends Julie, Victor, Elena, and Miles came from Cedar Falls and spent the afternoon with us. We planned on a zoo trip as we're all zoo people, but sadly the zoo was closed for a fundraiser that day. Instead we went to the park and then had Whitey's ice cream which is always fun for kids and parents:

Miles, Elena, Lily, and Noah:



In the evening, Lily experienced her first bonfire at Michelle's birthday party. She helped Nathan roast a brat on the fire and then had s'mores for the first time. I wish I had a picture of Lily's face after her first bite of a s'more. Marshmallows AND chocolate?!! She was in shock.

[ 2 comments ] ( 16 views )

What Noah Likes

October 5, 2008, 8:51 pm

If you ask Noah what he likes these days I'm pretty sure he would answer the following:

Cade! (his best buddy)
Soccer (He has really enjoyed soccer this fall and has scored many goals and sometimes gets a little to full of himself which we strongly discourage)
Football (He plays catch with Nathan many times a day)
Cub Scouts (He recently walked in the Homecoming parade in his uniform which he is very proud of)
Basketball
Star Wars
Indiana Jones
Legos
Bakugan

Yep, I think that covers what Noah likes these days:



The parade:

[ 2 comments ] ( 15 views )

Lily Quote of the Week

October 3, 2008, 10:05 am

Nathan and Lily made up jokes on the way to school today:

Lily: What goes up when summer goes down?
Papa: I don't know. What?
Lily: Shorts and none sleeves!

And Lily's inability to grasp the Knock Knock jokes:

Papa: Kock Knock
Lily: Who's there?
Papa: Orange
Lily: Orange who?
Papa: Orange you going to school?

To which Lily replied...

Lily: Knock Knock
Papa: Who's there?
Lily: Banana
Papa: Banana who?
Lily: Banana you going to work?

[ 2 comments ] ( 10 views )

Drum Roll Please

October 2, 2008, 3:41 pm

Here's Lily in her glasses. She was very serious when we picked them up. The glasses had to be adjusted to fit her little head, and she sat there with a stoic look on her face. She smiled when she looked in the mirror though. Then she insisted we go home and do some "homework."



Left-handed glasses-wearing sassy girl:


[ 5 comments ] ( 30 views )